Pneumatic conveyer



Jan. 13, 1931. G. BERNERT PNEUMATIC CONVEYER Filed Aug. 2f 1924 Jan. 13, 1931. G. BERNERT 1,789,096

PNEUMATIC CONVEYER Filed Aug- 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED S maatst- 'rss l rareNr orifice GEORGE BERNERT, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AssIGNOR To INDUSTRIAL e TILITY CoNvnYos COMPANY, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION orY sourir DAKOTA PNEMATIC CONVEYER Application sied august 2, 1924. serial Nb. 729,791@

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inpneum'atic conveyvcyer of that type having a conveying air duct and la conveyer casing communicating therewith and housing mechanical means for conveying the material to be handled therethrough to be discharged into the air duct to be carried therethrough by the conveying current of air therein.

One of the draw-baclrs topneumatic conveyers is the back pressure which must be contended with in the mechanical conveyer casing by reason of its communication with the air duct, and -this invention has as one of its objects the provision of a storage space interposed between the discharge end of the mechanical 'conveyer andA the communica- `ion of the conveyer casing With the air duct which is normally lled with material during the operation of the apparatus to thus`v act as' a: protection vagainst passage of vthe pressure current of air from the .duct

through the conveyer lcasing beyond the limits controlled by the valve luy-pass.

Another object of this iiivention'resides in the provision of a pneumatic coiiveye'r having a storage spacel interposed between the discharge end of the mechanical conveyer andthe communicating of tl'iecasiiig therefor with the air duct, a valve: normally closing the outer discharge end of the storage space and adapted' to swing openhu'pon the material pressing thereagainst, 'whereby the opening ofthe valve is at all-times' in proportion to the feed ofV material through the conveyercasiiig;

It is another object of this invention to provide a pneumatic conveyor apparatus of the character described including a normally closed' valve at the discharge end of `the conveyer casing having an adjustable discharge opening through Which the air may enter from the aii` duct to Contact with the material being conveyed and remove chaif and other foreign matter and condition the same. Y

This invention has asY another object the provision ofV apneumatic 'coi'iveyer-v apparatus" having ay discharge chamber in communical' tion with the air duct andintoj which the n lconveyer casing discharges. ers and refers more particularly to a conv Another object of this invention resides in ,the provisionk of a pneumatic conv'eyer mechanism having a conveying air duct, and a conveyor casing of substantially eylin drical form arranged to discharge into a substantially rectangular discharge chamber communicating Y with the' Vair duct to pro vide a shoulder forming a" seat yagainst which a valve member, hingedl'y mounted in the chambenis normally engaged i to prevent the conveying current of air from back ing into the loonve'yer casing through the discharge chamber. v

AA further object of this invention' resides in the. provision of an apparatus ofthe character described having a discharge chamber normally communicating with the air duct and normally.closedfrom the conveyer casing by a valve having van adjustable opening therein, the discharge chamber having a hand hole therein throughrwhich the Openin in the valve may be readily regulated.

here al screw or other type of rotary conveyer is employed forifeeding the ma# terial from the lhopper to the conveyer casing through air the like become entwined about theV upper end of .the shaft where it is passed out- Wardly through the upper end of the casing or about .the 'upper thrust bearing where it has vbeen driven from the bottom as illus trated in Letters Patent No. 1,200,699, granted October '10, 1916 and, therefore, this invention has as a further object the provision of a screw conveyer Which is driven from the bottom and the upper'end of which is 'frce'to float in the conveyer thus offering no obstruction to the passage of material,

A further object of this invention resides in the provision `of a pneumatic pconveyer.

of the`v character Vdescribed having a screw conveyer for'feeding iriaterial from the hopper through the conveyer casing to the air duct which has its lower end-substantially directly driven from the blower Yfan to thus produce an eflicient landisimple drive.

With some types o'fvmaterial, it hasb'eenV found that there is a tendency to pack or duct, strings, straws, or

jam as it is fed through the conveyer casing, requiring an excessive amount of energy to drive the conveyer and, therefore, this invention has as a further object the provision of a conveyer casing, the upper end of which is taperingly enlarged to permit the separation of the material as it is fed pwardly therethrough to prevent its packing or jamming.

This invention has as a further object the provision of a pneumatic conveyer in which the casing for housing the mechanical conveyer and the air duct are parallel, the upper end of the conveyer casing being so connected with the air duct as to discharge the material therefrom transversely into the conveying current of air to prevent the accumulation of the material in the blower fan casing.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a hopper from which the material to be conveyed is fed to the conveyer casing through a gate to regulate the feed of the material through the casing.

With the above and other objects in view which will .appear as the description proceeds,'my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and larrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructel according to the best modes I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, with parts broken away and in section, illustrating a pneumatie conveying apparatus embodying my invention j Figure 2 is a View .similar to Figure' 1 of a slightly modified form of pneumatic convever mechanism, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken transversely through the discharge chamber of that form of my invention illustratcd in Figure 2 on the plane of the line Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeralV designates a fan casing having a fan or blower' 6 therein, the shaft 7 of which is journaled in standards or supports 8, secured adjacent the sides of the fan casing.

A conveying air duct or trunk 9 has its lower end in communication with vthe fan casing and, in the present embodiment, projects upwardly therefrom and has an opening 10 in its top wall communicating with a discharge chamber 11 forming a substantial continuation of a mechanical conveyerl casing 12. The conveyer casing 12, in the present embodiment, is of substantially cylindrical form and approximatelyv parallels the trunk or air duct '9 and the discharge chamber 11 is `of substantially rectangular form, its side walls being preferably formed by extending-the sides vof the air duct. A shoulder' 15 is formed at the junction between the casing 12 and chamber 11 to provide a seat for a valve 14 which normally engages the same to close the upper end of the casing from the discharge chamber. `The valve 14 has its upper end hingedly mounted, as at 15, and is normally urged by gravity to its closing position engaging the seat 13 to prevent -the pressure current of air in the duct 9 from passing into the conveyer casing, but, at the same time, permitting the va ve to freely swing Yopen upon pressure of material fed through I the conveyer casing.

Mounted in the conveyer casing 12 as a shaft 16 on which is formed a screw conveyer 17, the shaft 16 passing through the bottom wall 18 of the conveyer ycasing and having a bevel er miter gear 19 fixed thereon which meshes with the Vpinion gear 2O fixed to a counter-shaft 21. The counter-shaft is journaled in bearings 22 carried by the rear wall of the casing and has a drive pulley 23 fixed thereto which is connected with the fan shaft by a belt 24 trained about a pulley 25 on the fan shaft. i

InV Figure 1 the shaft 16, isillustrated as having its upper end journaled in a relatively small bearing 26 carried by a bracket 27 secured to the casing wall. Then the bearing 26 is employed it is of the smallest possible size, as is the arm 27, which serves primarily to center the shaft and reduce, as much as possible, resistance to the passage of material through the conveyer easing.

In that form of my invention illustrated in Figure 2, the shaft 16 has its upper end free and its outer end is journaled in a bearing plate 28 fixed to the wall 18 and in a bearing 29 carried bythe brackets 22 to thus insure the steadying of the shaft in the casino'. This form of my invention offers no resistance to the passage of mate* rial through the conveyer casing and eliminates all possibiilty of strings, straws and other foreign matter becoming entangled therewith.

The lower end of the conveyer casing has its top wall provided with .an opening 3() with which a hopper 31 communicates, the material to be conveyed being deposited in the hopper and then discharged into the conveyer casing through the opening 30 and picked up by the screw conveyer 16. The upper end of the screw 17 terminates inmit a wardly of the upper valved end of the casing to provide a storage space 32 in which the material fed upwardly through thereonveyer accumulates. After the storage space has been filled, the continued feeding` of material through the casing l2 opensv valve le in proportion to the feed of the conveyer to thus discharge the material into the air duet 9 through'the discharge chamber ll. Should the material be of a character such as to pack and cling together, the material, instead of dropping directly into the air duet over the lower edge of the opening l0, is forced into the chamber l1 until, by reason of its length, it buckles discharged as will be evident.

ln that form of my invention illustrated in Figure 2, the opening 30 of the hopper 3l is variable by a slide gate which is operable to regulate the area of the opening 30 and consequently tne rate at which the material is fed the conveyer 17. The valve 14 is also provided with an opening or port 34 therein which is adjustable bya door or flap 35 which is connected therewith, as at 36, and has a projection 37 onits free end to facilitate movement thereof over the valve port. I

The door or flap 35 is normally frictionally retained in any position and is moved to open position when it is desired to perportion of the conveying current of air from the duct 9 to enter the conveyor casing and contact with the material. rlhis contact with the material on the part of the portion of the conveying current of air results in a conditioning of the material, tending to remove moisture, chaff and dust. The air entering the conveyer casing may be discharged therefrom either at the hopper 3l or through other means provided at any point in the conveyer casing. The flap or cover 35 may he readily adjusted through a hand hole 38 in the side of the chamber ll which is normally closed by a plate or door 39.

The provision of the storage spa-ce 32 between the discharge end of the screw conveyer and the communication of the conveycr 'using with the air duct by means of the chamber ll restricts or eliminates the occurrence of back pressure in the conveyer casing except when the door or flap 35 is moved to open position, thus providing an economy in operation. The storage space also results in the even or equal distribution of the material being conveyed into the conveying current of air eliminating the occurrence of unequal loads such as is caused when the volume of material discharged into the air duet varies.

As various types of materia-l have `a ltendaney to pack or jam as they are fed through the easing l2, the

easing is preferably taperingly enlarged toward its disand is charge end to thus; permit the material to spread' or separate. In that form of my' invention illustrated iin Figure l, the easing l2 is tapered from a point adjacent the hopper 3l to its upper discharge end and in the modiiication illustrated inl Figure 2, it V:is tapered for' only the approximate length of'thexspaee 32;

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it wil-li beA readily apparent to those skilled inthe art to which an invention of this character ap'pertains that provide a pneumaticl conveying mechanism in which thef occurrence back pressure in .the l conveyer. casing isi eliminated, the material discharged into'the air duct angularly' with respect tothe conveying current of air tov thus insure its beine carriedthereby and dropped downwar ly into the fan casing, and one having an Vobliqu'ely extended air ductinto-` which the material'is discharged to` intersectl the` conveyingy current of air at an angle. y

What I claim asmy invention is:

1..nk a pneumatic conveyerl apparatus having a'blower fan, a conveying ai'r duct leading'from thefan andl in which a eonveying current ofl ai-r is created:v by the fan, a mechanicali conveyerV easingY arranged adjacent the air duct and a mechanical conveyer mountedv invl the conveyer casing for conveying -material `llongitudlnally therethrough, a chamber interposed between the discharge end of the casing andi they air duct and through which material conveyed through the easing into the air duct, a storage space in the upper discharge endv ofthe conveyer casing in which the material conveyed through the casing accumulates before entering said chamber, a valve normally closing the storage space from said chamber and past whichY material is fed in proportion to the feed of material throughthe conveyer casing, and a port in said? valve through which ay portion of the conveying current'- of air enters to Contact with the material conveyed through the conveyer casing.

2. In' a pneumatic Vconveyer apparatus having ablower fan, a conveying air duct leading from the fan, a mechanical conveyer casi-ng arranged' adj-acentthc air duct and a mechanical conveyer mounted inA theI conveyer casing for conveying material lon` gitudinall-'y therethrough, a chamber interposed betwecn the discharg'eend of the casing and: the airduct and through which materialconveyed through the casing passes to bediseharged into the air duct, a storage space in the upper discharge end of the conveyer casing in which the material conveyed through the casing accumulates before entering said chamber, a valve normally closing the storage space from said passes to be discharged l Cir chamber and past which material is fed in proportion to the feed of material through the conveyer casing, and an adjustable port in said valve.

5 3. In a pneumatic conveyer apparatus having a blower fan, a conveyingair duct leadingfrom the fan, a mechanical conveyer oasing arranged adjacent the air duct and a mechanical conveyer mounted in the con- 10 veyer casing for conveying material longitudinally therethrough, a chamber interposed between the discharge end of the casing and the air duct and through Which material conveyed through the casing passes to be dis- 15 charged into the air duct, a storage space in the upper discharge end of the conveyer easing in which the material conveyed through the casing accumulates before entering said chamber, a valve normally closing the storm) age space from said chamber and past Which material is fed in proportion to the feed of material through the conveyer casing, an adjustable port in said valve7 and a handhole in one Wall of said chamber to facilig5 tate the adjustment of said valve port.

4. In a pneumatic conveying apparatus having a conveying air duct, a blower fan connected With the duct and operable to create a conveying current of air therein, a a) mechanical conveyer casing arranged to discharge into the air duct Yand mechanical means for feeding material through said conveyer casing to the air duct, means normally closing the mechanicalfconveyer cas- 35 ing from the air duct to prevent the occurrence of back pressure therein fromthe air duct, and means operable to permit a portion of the conveying current of vair to enter the mechanical conveyer easing and contact e with the material fed therethrough to condition the same.

In a pneumatic conveying apparatus having a conveying air duct, a blower fan connected with the duct and operable to 4 create a conveying current of air therein, a mechanical conveyer casing .arranged to discharge into the air duct and mechanical means for feeding material through said eonveyer casing to the air duct, means norte mally closing the mechanical conveyer easing from the air duct to prevent the occurrence of back pressure therein from the air duct, and adjustable means operableV to permit a portion of the conveying current of air to enter the n'iechanical conveyor casing and contact with the material fed therethrough to condition the same.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE BERNEBT. 

